THEA 1103:
Acting for Non-Majors, Fall 2014
Instructor: John Dement
Office: B112, Fain Fine Arts Center
Phone: 940.397.4908
email: john.dement@mwsu.edu
Text & Materials:
Classroom:
Class Hours:
Office Hours:
FA B118 Studio Theatre
TR 9:30 to 10:50
MWF 10:30-1:00 / TR 1:30-4:00
Acting 1, 5th Ed. by Robert Cohen
1” black, 3-ring binder for class handouts, scripts, etc.
Loose, comfortable clothing & flat, soft-soled shoes
Course Description:
THEA 1403: Introduction to Acting teaches the fundamental concepts of acting: creating a character
using sensory and emotional resources, stage movement & blocking, vocal technique, and the
professional procedures for rehearsal and performance.
Objectives:
To create performers who:
 acknowledge the craft of acting,
 demonstrate physical, vocal and mental comfort onstage,
 communicate with their director and fellow actors efficiently,
 use Robert Cohen’s GOTE technique to perform in a believable way, and
 understand the discipline and commitment required to be a professional actor.
Policies:
 This is a performance class. This is also a creative class. Always arrive on time and be prepared
to stay the entire time scheduled for the course. Remember, too, that participation is a part of
your grade. If you are not here, you cannot participate. After your first absence, 5 points per
absence will be deducted from you participation grade. If you are more than 15 minutes late or
leave more than 15 minutes before the end of class, you will be counted absent for that day.
Work, non-emergency medical and dental appointments, intramural games, and all other forms
of personal engagements do not constitute an excused absence.
 All outside assignments are due on or before the assigned due date at the beginning of class. No
late work will be accepted without prior approval or official documentation.
 It is the responsibility of the student to keep all graded assignments if a grade is questioned.
 Since acting is about communicating effectively with your audience, correct English and
grammar are necessary for all assignments.
 Classroom etiquette: if you violate any of the following rules, you may be asked to leave and
counted absent for the day.
 Turn off cell phones at the beginning of class.
 Expect and give respect to the work being done in class at all times.
 Do not talk while performance work is in progress.
 Do not enter or leave the classroom during performance work.
 Choose material for class study based on constructive content, not subject matter.
 Dishonest work on any assignment or exam will not be tolerated. Plagiarism is the use of
someone else’s thoughts, words, ideas, or lines of argument in your own work without
appropriate documentation. Disciplinary action will be taken if the instructor discovers
dishonesty or cheating. The instructor reserves the right to drop any student engaging in
academic dishonesty from this course. Students dropped from the course by the instructor for
failure to attend classes or for academic dishonesty may receive an F for the semester.
* Course information and requirements are subject to change at the instructor’s discretion.
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Students with disabilities or special needs should see the instructor as early in the semester as
possible. Please note that in order to qualify for consideration of special accommodations, the
student must be registered with Disability Support Services (Room 168 of the Clark Student
Center 397-4140) and the instructor must receive a memo on file from that office, along with a
Special Accommodations Request form.
Each student is expected to read and to adhere to the academic standards laid out in the online
Student Handbook.
Scene Rehearsals and Performances
Three scenes will be rehearsed and performed as graded assignments throughout the semester.
These are the most important grades for this class. In addition to a grade for each final
performance, each project will include preliminary grades for memorization and preparedness.
Think of the final performances as major exams. Without strong supporting documentation, missed
scene performances cannot be made up.
Participation
Since acting is learned by doing, I will record each time you participate during in-class
demonstrations or exercises. This willingness to work will be reflected as part of your final grade.
You are also required to rehearse outside of class time. These specific rehearsal times will be
recorded by you and your scene partner in your acting journal and will be reflected as part of your
final grade.
Written Work
During the semester, you will have multiple homework assignments. You will turn in documents
before each of your performed scenes. If you do not have your documents, you will not be allowed to
perform. You will be responsible for keeping an actor’s journal this semester. Finally, you are
required to attend both MSU productions (Sweeney Todd, Feb. 28-Mar. 3 & the 2012-2013 Festival
of Student Produced One-Act Plays, Apr. 12-May 4) and turn in written critiques.
Exams & Quizzes
There will be a mid-term exam and a final exam plus multiple quizzes covering lecture and in-class
concepts, reading assignments and vocabulary during the semester. Quizzes will be administered at
the instructor’s discretion during the first ten minutes of class and cannot be made up. Without
strong supporting documentation, missed exams cannot be made up.
Grading Scale/Evaluation Methods:
Scenes ................................................................ 40%
 Lines-off check & Preliminary Run: 15%
 Final Performances: 25%
Participation ....................................................... 20%
 In-class: 10%
 Recorded Rehearsal Time: 10%
Written Work ...................................................... 25%
 Homework, Journals & Scene Paperwork: 10%
 Critiques 1 & 2: 15%
Exams ................................................................. 10%
Quizzes ................................................................. 5%
A ........ Above 90%
B ........ 80-89%
C ........ 70-79%
D ........ 60-69%
F ......... Below 59%
* Course information and requirements are subject to change at the instructor’s discretion.
Calendar & Exam Schedule:
Because this course is project specific and must be mastered by every student before the class can
move on, the calendar and exam schedule will be very fluid. The best way to know when exams and
assignments are scheduled is to attend class on a regular basis.
Important dates and times:
Sweeney Todd
Performances
Thur-Sat
Feb 28-Mar 2
Sun
Mar 3
2012-2013 Festival of Student Produced One-Act Plays
Performances
Fri-Sat
Apr 12-13
Fri-Sat
Apr 19-20
Fri-Sat
May 3-4
7:30 PM
2:30 PM
Mid-Term Exam
Final Exam
9:30 AM
8:00 AM
Thursday
Tuesday
March 7
May 7
7:30 PM
7:30 PM
7:30 PM
Excerpts from the Theatre Student Handbook, 11th ed. pp. 4-5:
 No smoking, eating, or drinking will take place in the main theatre auditorium or studio theatre
at any time.
 The Theatre Department wing of the Lamar D. Fain Fine Arts Center is without doubt one of the
most beautiful, functional, and well-equipped theatre facilities in the world. We maintain the
building by picking up after ourselves and by using the facility and equipment carefully.
 The greenroom will be checked continually; any and all items (shoes, coats, purses, books, etc.)
left lying around will be disposed of.
 An ensemble feeling and genuine esprit de corps are essential for theatre as an art. While
differences of opinion and open-minded discussion can lead to better solutions and better
productions, bickering, bossing, blaming, complaining, and name-calling are always
counterproductive. We must work together, for none of us can do it alone.
 The Department of Theatre will in no way be responsible for theft or loss of personal property.
There are small lockers available for your use underneath the large worktables in the scene
shop. The students using the lockers will supply locks.
 Any props, furniture, costumes, or sound equipment checked out for classroom work must be
returned to proper areas, or a hold will be placed on the borrower’s grades and an “F” will be
assigned for Rehearsal and Production (or in this case, acting class).
* Course information and requirements are subject to change at the instructor’s discretion.